ADDITIONAL MAIL NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXX, Issue 4783, 19 January 1884, Page 4

ADDITIONAL MAIL NEWS.

News ha*' been received that a great force of the hill tribes attacked five companies of Egyptian troops which were reconnoitring outside Souakhn on the sth instant.. Severe fighting ensued, the Egyptians being completely annihilated, and all their artillery captured. Spies entered Souakim, and reported the hill men were hovering near town. On hearing this Mahomet Tafes Pasha, anxious to efface his defeat at Tokau on the 6th ult., on account of which a court-martial is pending, sent forward 500 black troops and 200 Bashi-Bazouks against the hill tribes. He himself remained at Souakim, at a distance of three hours' march from the town. The Egyptians were attacked by several thousands, and fought fiercely, but were cut to pieces, and only 50, half of whom were officers, escaped. This defeat of troops hitherto regarded as the flower of the army, causes consternation here, as it tends to show that the task of opening a route from Souakim to Berber, with the material at Baker Pasha's disposal is nearly hopeless. Twenty cavalry men accompanied the Egyptian forces. The total loss was 600 men. There were two European officers with the force, and the whole was under the command of an Egyptian Major. The surviving officers say they were surrounded by 5000 men. Tliß Egyptians formed a square, the black troops being stationed on the three faces and the Bashi Bazouks on the fourth face of the square. The latter fell back, throwing the black troops into disorder. The blacks fought with great bravery. One gun and all their arms and ammunition were lost. In consequence of the disaster, the garrison at Souakim is reduced to 1000. The blacks fought back to back in groups or pairs, some with clubbed muskets. Many rebels were killed. A London special says despatches received at Cairo to-day attribute the failure of El Mahdi to continue Ins advance on Khartoum to the breaking out of dissensions amongst the heads of the various tribes marching under his banner. Some of these advocate an advance upon Dongola, while others prefer an attack on Khartoum The two factions cannot agree on a plan of operations. It is said, moreover, that the defection cf Kabbabbist tribes to El Mahdi will inevitably occur if the latter forces continue their advance. A well-known native with Hicks Pasha's army has returned from El Obeid, whence he was enabled to escape because of his black color. He says Hicks Pasha fought like a lion, and was the last officer to fall. The members of his staff fell in one group. After the battle 150 soldiers were found wounded. El Mahdi gave orders that none of the wounded should be ill-treated. The Arabs are determined to erect a monument for Hicks Pasha on occount of his great bravery, but El Mahdi forbade it. El Mahdi threatened to punish Jargallis, because he failed to join him. The Sheik sent defiance, saying he has 15,000 warriors and seven years' provisions. Anothe'i* Chinese ironclad was launched at Stettin on December Ist. The Chinese Legation and many invited guests were present. The Legation is entering into contracts for material for war, which is being sent to China in immense quantities. Alderman Meagel, a Parnellite, was

elected Lord Mayor of Dublin. The Liberal and Conservative members of the Corporation abstained from voting. The gunboat Nautilius is to reinforce the German squadron in the Chinese waters. The Ulema of Mecca, a body of learned men, has formally condemned El Mahdi as an imposter. Agrarian crimes in the Government of Kief, Russia, are increasing. Much pro- : perty of the landlords has been damaged 1 by acts of incendiarism ancl pillage. Mathews, the editor of the Tyrone Courier, was arrested on a charge of exciting the Orangemen against the Nationalists. The annual report of the Parnell fund shows £30,435, of which Ireland gave £25,820, America £2,541, England £1,045, Scotland £376, and from other places £653. Andrew Coleman, the principal witness for the prosecution in the trial of conspirators, testified to the existence of a branch of the Fenian brotherhood in the County Mayo. He said he had given information to the police while assisting the men now on trial. He once accompanied the men now prisoners to murder a certain gentleman, who escaped because he had previously warned him. ! The crisis in the shipbuilding trade on the Clyde is growing more and more intense. Three large firms, including Denny Brothers, have notified their employees that wages will be reduced in January, and several other firms will follow their example. Rucchannet, the head of the Political Department of the Swiss Federal Council, at a military banquet, said, "Be on your guard ; let the Swiss people prepare to defend their country ; many black clouds I are gathering on the European horizon ; a war long avoided can not be escaped after 1884, it may even come next spring." The London Times thinks President Arthur's message somewhat careless, and sees a tribute to the Irish vote in the language used in regard to pauper immigration. The Press generally expresses disappointment that the President did not recommend a reduction in the tariff. The Standard says: — "The most important part is that containing a recommendation to use heroic measures for the suppression of polygamy." The Telegraph denounces the President's recommendation to use heroic measures for the suppression of polygamy, and describes the proposal as an attempt to erect a political despotism on the ruins of a prescribed faith. The Portuguese Press write against the Queen, Prince of Wales, and English society generally, for neglecting their Crown Prince, and allowing him to go to an hotel, and not giving him a single reception or ball. A Calcutta despatch says that the Marquis of Ripon, Viceroy of India, returned on Saturday, and was welcomed by an immense crowd of natives. The banners of the natives, on which " God bless the Viceroy" was inscribed, were destroyed by Europeans, and a European mob of 2000 assembled at the Government house, and hissed the Marquis and his wife when they drove to the gate. At a banquet on Friday 2000 Europeans Avere present, and the toast, "The Viceroy," was received in silence, and only twenty-four persons stood up. T. M. Healy, M.P., raided at the fortnightly meeting of the Irish National League on December sth. The secretary announced ,£IOOO had been received from.America since the last meeting. Mr Biggar referred to J. O'Connel Power, M.P. for Mayo, as the James Carey of Irish politics, and added that no Irishman had a chance of a Government situation who had not first become a traitor to the interests of Ireland. International measures are mooted for the control of the sale of explosives, in order to prevent their use by conspirators. According to a statement made by a leading New York importer the effect of the decision of the U.S. Customs authorities to exclude impure teas has been to decrease the importation fr0m14,685,0001bs to 8,G50,0001b5. At Calders, a Chilian seaport, on December 10th, 8500 sacks of saltpetre became ignited, destroying a great portion of the coal deposit of the railway between that place and Copiapo. The saltpetre ran on the railway track to the sea, burning the sleepers, fence, machine-shops, &c. The New York Bar Association has expressed by resolution the wish that Judges of the Court of Appeal appear in silken gowns on the Bench, and on the 12th a committee was appointed to prosecute disreputable lawyers, by whom the profes- i sion is burdened.